Dev Squad return to Rush Green

Nick Haycock expects to be pressed into changes for Friday's Barclays Under-21 Premier League visit of West Bromwich Albion, but insists his faith in the Academy is such that he is confident no matter of the personnel at his disposal.

With the exception of goalkeeper Jake Larkins, Development Squad coach Haycock named an unchanged XI for the Elite Group Stage trip to Tottenham Hotspur on Monday, but is unlikely to have that luxury again at Rush Green.

Haycock explained that player availability changes on a daily basis and so uncertainty is par for the course at U21 level.

"It's difficult at this level, because from each day to the next you're not sure who's training with you, because obviously some train with the first team and there are injuries and loans," Haycock told West Ham TV. "So you get little time to prepare for a game. But we always get the day before and we try to prepare as much as we possibly can with the personnel that we've got.

"We'll probably look slightly different against West Brom on Friday, but whoever I've got, the whole system works as a conveyor belt. Youth team up to Development Squad, Development Squad into first team and that will never be any different at this football club."

After visits to Arsenal's and Tottenham Hotspur's training grounds, Haycock is looking forward to a return to Rush Green.

If West Ham are to return to winning ways after Monday's topsy-turvy reverse at Spurs, they will have to overcome a West Brom side unbeaten in the Elite Group. The Baggies have collected four points, courtesy of a creditable 1-1 draw at Arsenal, before Monday's 1-0 home win over Black Country neighbours Wolverhampton Wanderers.

This will be the sides' third meeting of the campaign, with the Hammers coming out unscathed on both occasions. West Ham secured a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns in September, while they won the reverse fixture 1-0 at Rush Green. West Ham's goalscorers, Rob Hall and Paul McCallum are now both out on loan, at Birmingham City and AFC Wimbledon respectively.

Kick-off is set for 7pm at Rush Green on Friday, where admission is £3 for Adults and £1 for Under-16s, while Season Ticket Holders will be admitted free of charge.